Fengqi Pavilion of Gouliang Village

Fengqi Pavilion of Gouliang Village

Fengqi Pavilion of Gouliang Village is located in Gouliang Miao Village, Alatown, Fenghuang County. Here stands a Miao royal mansion known as “Fengqi Pavilion.” Legend has it that this Miao king, who ruled the area within a hundred li, had a residence that embodies the cultural exchange and fusion between the Central Plains Han culture and the southwestern Miao culture.

The mansion is built along the slope, with its tall, imposing walls constructed from blue bricks, turning it into a sturdy fortress. The main structure inside is made of wood, with fire-prevention gables designed in the traditional Hunan style of horse-head walls, and the entrance gate is exquisitely decorated.

To the left, away from the entrance hall, there is a small door that cleverly leads to the semi-basement — the entrance and exit for the servants’ quarters. The master and guests, however, must ascend the steps of the entrance hall to reach the ground floor of the mansion. This separation of primary and secondary entrances is a distinctive feature.

One side of the mansion houses the main room, while the other three sides are enclosed by wooden corridors, all spanning two floors. The main room is a single-bay, five-bay wooden structure, with the central three bays serving as the main living area and the side bays functioning as auxiliary rooms. The second floor is used for storing grain and other supplies. The three-sided wooden corridors are deep and covered with roofs, making them suitable for meetings and discussions during rainy days. This layout of interior space not only features the characteristics of Miao residential architecture in western Hunan but also incorporates elements of Han family ancestral halls, making it quite unique. Standing in the central courtyard of the mansion, one can see the weathered charm of the bluestone underfoot and the solemn presence of the surrounding wooden buildings — all reflecting the beauty this structure has gained through years of history. Faint traces remain of the valor of the Miao king who once led his people here to resist outside threats. Fengqi Pavilion, born from the collision of two distinct ethnic cultures, stands as a precious testament to the unity and integration of the Han and Miao peoples.